2026-27 Women's Basketball Season Preview

ALBANY, N.Y. - The UAlbany women’s basketball season is set to start the season on Monday, November 2.

With a new head coach comes a new beginning. Head coach Kelly Morrone leads 14 players, 12 of them new to UAlbany, as they get to work at Broadview Center and prepare for the season ahead.

A New Era

After six seasons at Merrimack, Kelly Morrone joined UAlbany as the new head coach and looks to guide the Great Danes to success within the new era - the Morrone Era.  

While at Merrimack, Morrone led the Warriors to back-to-back NEC semifinal appearances, coached 10 NEC All-Conference selections, and secured the program's first-ever Division I postseason victory and WNIT berth. She continued to lead Merrimack through its transition to the MAAC, when the Warriors earned back-to-back semifinal appearances. Fresh off her 2025-26 MAAC Coach of the Year nod, she trades the blue for purple after a 19-win campaign that secured the third-seed in the MAAC Tournament.

With all of her success at Merrimack, Morrone has learned “making winning decisions for the team never actually focuses on winning as a competitive result. It’s my job to make sure that we create and maintain an unbreakable foundation.”

“I'm very encouraged,” said Morrone regarding her feelings towards the new season. “Chemistry takes time to build but we have great humans that are focusing on their connection on and off of the court.”

From Massachusetts to the Capital Region

Not only is this a new era for Coach Morrone, but it’s also a new beginning for those who left Merrimack to follow her - student-athletes Madison Roman, Daria Shishkina, and Cadence Johnson and coaches Victoria Lux and Claudio Buratti. From North Andover, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, a new journey begins for them in Broadview Center.

“I connected with the system and the beliefs that Coach Kelly and the staff had created [at Merrimack] and bought in to carry that to UAlbany,” said senior Madison Roman. “Starting fresh can be exciting in that you get to decide what you make of it and, being a senior, I am able to bring experiences and lessons I have learned throughout my college career to not only benefit myself, but everyone else too.”

“[Coach Kelly] made such a positive impact on my growth as a young woman and as a basketball player,” said redshirt-junior Cadence Johnson. “There was nothing I wanted more than to follow her and help her build this new team.”

“I already had a strong relationship with the [coaching staff],” said junior Daria Shishkina. “Knowing that I would have that familiarity and support system made UAlbany an easy choice.”

New Season, New Team, New Goal

The Great Danes enter this new season focusing on strategies and mindfulness that will help them to land on top. 

“Our mindset is to not back down from anyone and play our hardest no matter who we're playing,” said freshman Sofia Caraus. “We want to stay connected, compete, and have each other's backs no matter what.”

Entering this new chapter, Morrone makes it clear that while winning is important, every step that comes before that is just as important, if not more.

“Overall, we strive for a healthy and happy locker room,” said Morrone. “We can't skip the steps it takes to build a winning program and if all of the people in the room are bought into that then we are starting in a good spot … The wins will follow when culture leads the way.”

Finding Their Strength

A new era calls for exploring each player’s strength, physically and mentally, and finding that one common factor that will be the answer to success.

“That's the fun part and I can’t wait to find out,” said Morrone. “I can see several different paths of identity that we can take but what reveals itself naturally is a moment that is awesome to experience as a coach.”

“We’re a completely new team,” said junior Sabela Carro. “We’re very motivated, ready to work hard, and excited to give everything we have.”

“Our team is hungry and ready to compete,” said Cadence Johnson. “Our team is filled with competitors and high-energy people. We are ready to start playing games and make a statement as a brand new group!”

Home Court Energy

The Great Danes are back at Broadview Center, home to the most electric environment in the caption region. The fans bring the energy to the arena and everyone’s counting down the days until they’re back home in Broadview. 

“It feels so great to be back at Broadview Center,” said senior Lara Langermann. “I’m excited to be back on our home court and create some great memories with this team in the gym I like playing in the most.” 

“I love the environment and the energy that surrounds and supports us during the games,” said sophomore Emma Zuccon. “It’s amazing to see all our fans in the stands and see the way they cheer and support us no matter what.”

International Flair

From Europe and Canada to the United States, this basketball team is a second home to six international players who look to bring everything they learned growing up to the main stage, Broadview Center. 

“We focused a lot on execution, footwork, and basketball IQ back home, so I try to bring that smart, structured approach to my game here,” said Daria Shishkina, a junior from Moscow, Russia.

“Without a doubt, the style of basketball I played in Spain is very different from the one at UAlbany,“ said freshman Noa López Tallón. “In Spain, the game was much more tactical, whereas in the United States, it is far more physical.” 

Some also note the game is a bit different in their hometowns.

“Some rules are different, which is what stood out to me the most.“ said Alexia Bujold, a freshman from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada. “For example, the shot clock is 24 seconds in Québec, not 30. We also have five people at the free throw line instead of six.” 

Fresh(man) Feeling

UAlbany’s 2026 freshman class is an ambitious and talented group. The new class includes Frankie McLain (Wisconsin), Alexia Bujold (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada), Sofia Caraus (Virginia), Noa López Tallón (Sarria, Lugo, Spain), Jenava Egan (Massachusetts), and Abriyah Cunningham (Syracuse, New York). 

After being asked about what made them choose to join UAlbany WBB, the team gave some insight into what led to their decision: 

“The feeling I got when I walked in the gym, I just had a feeling this is where I see myself playing and getting better,” answered McLain. 

“I was drawn to UAlbany because of the culture here,” responded Cunningham. “They have a history of winning so it is really clear that this program values hard work and excellence.”

Schedule Highlights

The Great Danes open the 2026-27 season on the road at Northeastern before hosting Manhattan for their first contest in Broadview. 

“I’m most excited to play Northeastern because it’s close to home for me, so my family will have the opportunity to come watch me play,” said graduate student Shyla Montgomery.

After the first ever America East-Metro Challenge is complete, UAlbany will continue its 17-game non-conference slate hosting schools like Cornell, Union, and St. Bonaventure and visiting top-tier opponents such as Ole Miss, Rutgers, South Carolina, and UMass. 

“I’m excited to play in [South Carolina’s] amazing arena,” said Emma Zuccon. “[I’m excited to play] against one of the best teams in the country … to compete against such amazing athletes.”

Conference play will start just before the New Year at UMass Lowell on December 31. 

The Great Danes are excited for the chance to compete in a highly-competitive conference, specifically Binghamton, after being voted first in the preseason poll, and Vermont, the reigning America East Champions.

“The goal is always to be at the top so naturally you want to compete against the best,” said junior Kohen Marshall. 

“I'm excited to play [Vermont] because they won the America East Championship last year,” said freshman Jenava Egan. “I can't wait to see what a championship winning team looks like.“

Game Day Vibes

UAlbany will host an exciting lineup of themed promotional nights for the 2026–27 season.

• Nov 5 vs Manhattan – Opening Night
• Nov 18 vs Bucknell – Commitment to Education
• Nov 21 vs Cornell – Swiftie Day 
• Nov 25 vs Union – Friendsgiving 
• Nov 25 vs Stonehill – Family Day
• Dec 8 vs Colgate – International Students Night
• Dec 19 vs St. Bonaventure – Holiday Hoopla
• Jan 9 vs Binghamton – 2-For-1 Day
• Jan 14 vs NJIT – Union Night
• Jan 16 vs UMBC – Kids Day
• Jan 28 vs UMass Lowell – Black Out
• Jan 30 vs Vermont – National Girls & Women in Sports Day
• Feb 11 vs Bryant – Commitment to Education
• Feb 25 vs New Hampshire – Spread Respect 
• Feb 27 vs Maine – Senior Night
   

Sabela Carro is specifically looking forward to National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

“It's really important to give women in sports more visibility because we make a lot of sacrifices to get where we are, and we deserve to get that recognition,” said Carro.

Drive the Lane

UAlbany is excited to continue its partnerships with ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team and City Line Bar & Grill for the sixth consecutive year of ‘Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops’. The weekly radio spot features head coach Kelly Morrone, along with select student-athletes, on air with ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team’s Charlie Voelker and Vinny Fredericks. The show will be held live on Monday from City Line Bar & Grill on Western Ave across the street from UAlbany’s campus.

The show is set to run every Monday throughout the basketball season from 5-6 pm. Coaches and student-athletes join Charlie and Vinny to break down games, give an inside look at the program, and connect with the Capital Region community. In addition, having the show at City Line Bar & Grill continues to give fans the unique opportunity to talk to the Great Danes in person. The first show of the 2026-27 season will take place on November 2.

Fans unable to listen live can catch every episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music the next day. Look up “The Team Tailgate with Charlie Voelker” or click the links below to find each episode.

Spotify | Amazon Music | Apple Music

Nitty Gritty

Tickets

Both single-game and season tickets are on sale for the entirety of the 2026-27 season. Fans are invited out to Broadview Center for fun and excitement as the women’s basketball team competes for an America East Championship. The Great Danes will kick off the season at Northeastern and host seven games at Broadview before beginning the conference season at UMass Lowell on December 31.

To purchase tickets for the 2026-27 season, fans can click the links below or contact the UAlbany Ticket Office by phone (518-442-DANE) or by email (GreatDaneTickets@albany.edu).

Single-Game Tickets | Season Tickets

America East Preseason Poll

Binghamton was named the preseason favorite, with six first-place votes, for 60 points. UMBC (two) and Vermont (one) also earned first-place votes from the conference’s head coaches. 

With a near-entirely new team, the Great Danes were selected to finish seventh.

1. Binghamton - 60 (6)
2. UMBC - 57 (2)
3. Vermont - 48 (1)
4. Maine - 41
5. Bryant - 40
6. NJIT - 29
7. UAlbany - 25
8. New Hampshire - 16
9. UMass Lowell - 8

Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany women’s basketball by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.